EU top diplomat Borrell criticizes Western powers for lack of support for Ukrainian air defense

Western militaries cannot provide Ukraine with the seven Patriot air defense systems it is desperately asking for, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said during a speech at the Nueva Economia Forum on April 9.

"A few days ago I spoke with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and he is desperately asking for seven Patriot batteries to defend his country,” Borrell said.

“It would be unthinkable if we could not provide them, given that Western armies have about 100 Patriot batteries."

He called on the EU to increase Ukraine's air defense capabilities to prevent further destruction of infrastructure. Ukraine now has no way to avoid damage from Russian drone and air strikes, the EU High Representative said.

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He called the situation in Ukraine extremely difficult, as "the Russian military machine is running at full speed” which is still “completely asymmetrical” to Ukraine.

"It is enough for Russia not to lose to show that they are winning,” Borrell added.

“Ukraine, on the other hand, needs to win in order not to lose."

Read also: Patriot air defense systems continue to perform tasks in the frontline areas – Air Force

Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine

On April 19, 2023, the first Patriot systems, donated from the U.S., the Netherlands, and Germany, arrived in Ukraine. They were put on combat duty that same month.

In December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's air defenses would be bolstered by new Patriot systems that winter.

Germany announced that it had handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine, which included a Patriot air defense system, on Dec. 14.

Read also: Kuleba, Borrell discuss EU's potential supplies of Patriot AA systems

Meanwhile, U.S. business news outlet Forbes reported that Russian troops may have destroyed two launchers a Patriot system for the first time on March 9. According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, nine Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the attack.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that its partners do not want to give Ukraine "five to seven" Patriot missile defense systems to down ballistic missiles more effectively, although they have more than one hundred of them, on April 3.

On April 6, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine needs 25 Patriot systems, or their equivalents, to fully protect its airspace from Russian attacks.

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